Inaugural app-focused event coming to developers' backyard

For some, apps might be nothing more than a happy-hour staple, but for others they’ve become the latest sensation in all things mobile.
Applications are driving a tremendous new avenue for business in the wireless space. The trend is pulling countless developers, publishers and venture capitalists into a growing group of “app” people, and as such it only makes sense that events pertaining to them would be on the way.
The organizers behind AppNation hope to do bring about that kind of coalescence in about three months. The new conference and expo, which is dedicated exclusively to the world of apps, is on the docket for San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center exactly three three weeks before CTIA Enterprise & Applications kicks off at the same venue. There is another app-centric event, AppCon, lined up for Aug. 24-26 in Las Vegas.
Drew Ianni, a 15-year digital media and marketing industry veteran, is launching the conference under his new production company, M2 Events L.L.C. Ianni also ran ad:tech for years as the programming chairman and senior global analyst.
The inaugural event, which is slated for Sept. 13-14, has already lined up keynotes with top executives at GetJar Networks Inc., Time Inc., Marvel Entertainment L.L.C., Initiative Media, The Wall Street Journal and Zynga Game Network Inc.
“This event is designed to push the applications industry forward by focusing on monetization, investment strategies and opportunities, new media business models, advertising and marketing best practices, as well as consumer insights and analytics,” said Drew Ianni, founder and event chairman of AppNation. He added: “That’s a tall order. To do this, we will bring together key players from across the apps value chain and economy to share and gain value-added insights into the consumer applications economy, conduct some business, and have a little fun along the way.”
The event aims to be an onsite resource for developers and one that will guide them as they look to increase the exposure of their products and services and make more money in the process.
Ira Rubensetin, executive VP and head of the Global Digital Media Unit at Marvel Entertainment, said: “I am proud to support Drew as he launches this new conference and I look forward to having the opportunity to meet talented new developers and gain valuable insights into how consumers are interacting with applications across all devices and platforms.”